Tag: IPA

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Review – Humans Vs. Wizards

Time to choose a side. Wizards and Hazies or Humans and West Coasties?

This challenge comes to us from Smog City and Three Weavers and their two IPA’s…

We start with…

More Wizard Than Human Hazy IPA – fruit plus Sweet Tart on the aroma. Soft on the palate. The bitterness is there but more lurking than upfront. The spell of hops is from Strata, Cashmere and El Dorado. I get some tea like notes from the Strata plus a little twisted malt note.

More Human Than Wizard West Coast IPA – according to the label art, much bigger hops used. Though really it is the same big three just expressed differently. Tilted more British in styling with a bready note. More earthy and woody and no fruit.

Verdict – I like the fruity notes in the hazy over the earthy in the West Coast. I also like the wizard over the Thor like dude with the big H mash paddle.

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Review – Two IPA’s from Lucky Luke Brewing

Time to dive into some IPA’s from sorta local Lucky Luke Brewing Company.

In a world where a LOT of IPAs taste very similar, these two do not.

Hooray for Me – this is quite uniquely fruity. Maybe guava or papaya here. It has the clarity if not the bracing bitterness. That 7.2% is super well masked. Could easily be a DIPA in name.

Free High 5 – certainly a hazy DIPA. Getting huge amounts of banana and earthiness here. Squarely in the hazy category. This is a cheek warmer. Soft texture but in no way weak.

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Review – RnD #4 from Russian River

Time to check in with Research & Development at Russian River Brewing…

#4 pours a really light yellow but has a huge floral and grape aroma that fills the glass. Along with the Concord grape aroma, I also get a touch of cattiness as well. There is a sharp biting hop hit at first that leads to the woody and fruity mashup. It tastes stronger than the color and 7% ABV would leas you to think.

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Featured Review – Hopnosis from Firestone Walker

Earlier this month, I re-reviewed a beer from Stone Brewing, now, don’t get confused, I am reviewing a beer from Firestone Walker, Hopnosis IPA.

This is yet another light and bright beauty from FW. Hopnosis pours a darkish yellow. There is a light pine earthy aroma that really pops. The bitterness is calibrated just right. As you drink, a little fruit punch flavor creeps into adding another layer.

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De-Putinize

Russian River Brewing has done up a one-off – new version of Defenestration.

It “is a “West meets East Coast-style IPA” with tons of juicy hop aroma and bitterness. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to humanitarian efforts to help Ukrainian refugees. Defenestration and Putin Huylo will be released in cans only at both pubs and Gift Shops around the 1st of April. A very small amount of each beer will be available online as well! Stay tuned for more updates. Thank you for joining us in supporting and helping the people of Ukraine!”

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Guidelines

North Park Beer Company has had some label hits and some label misses according to my design specificity but I do like the humor and pop of rainbow color on this new IPA…

It’s far past time for the algorithm to catch more flak. Leave the breweries alone.

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Review – Beach Run IPA from AleSmith and Pizza Port

More goodies came from AleSmith recently so it is time to take a walk on the beach, I am not one for running.

This time Pizza Port was brought in to partner on Beach Run IPA.

This DDH IPA has Enigma, Cashmere and Sabro hops an pours a bright lustrous yellow. And it does pack a bitterness punch. I get a little bit of catty, a little bit of fruit punch and a little bit of pine as well. No coconut from the Sabro which I usually get. There is a bit of alcohol heat as well which is kinda weird for a beer below 7% ABV. It is smack dab in classic pre-2010 West Coast IPA territory.

The next AleSmith collab IPA will be with Revision Brewing, Split Aces in a red checked can.